Plural valves and actuators



Feb. 8, 1966 R. T. coRNELlUs 3,233,631

PLURL VALVES AND ACTUATORS med may 2o, 196s 6 BY 4M m, W1@

United States Patent O 3,233,63 PLURAJ VALVES AND ACTUATORS Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to The Cornelius Company, Anoka, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 20, 1963, Ser. No. 281,476 6 Claims. (Cl. IS7-637.2)

This invention relates generally to valve structures, and more specilically to a dispensing 4valve for carbonated beverages.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various valves, faucets, or other dispensing devices for liquid, a particularly useful application is made in valves or faucets of the type that are employed with carbonated beverages, such as beer and soft drinks. In particular, useful valves of this type are preferably constructed to minimize turbulence so that a beverage may be rapidly dispensed into a vessel without the dispensing or creating of any significant amount of foam. Where the foam is excessive, the operator must Wait for it to die down to add the proper amount of liquid, and failing to do so, he creates customer dissatisfaction because of having been served a lesser amount of beverage than one would expect.

On the other hand, a certain amount of foam is desirable and expected, For example, a small head on a 'glass of beer, or foam in an ice cream soda, is considered desirable.

When the level of carbonation decreases in the supply of carbonated beverage, the likelihood of there being an adequate head decreases. Furthermore, as the quality of the basic valve increases and creates less turbulence, the quantity of head or foam decreases.

There are large numbers of dispensing valves of the type described which have been sold, and which would need to be scrapped if they were to be replaced by a dispensing apparatus capable of both delivering a high rate of low-foam liquid, and of delivering or creating foam. This problem is magniiied by the fact that many faucets now in use are styled and sized to form a part of a larger apparatus such as a soda fountain or other major piece of equipment.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention there is provided a valve assembly which takes the place of the valve assembly of a conventional dispensing device, the valve assembly of the present invention having incorporated therein a second valve assembly so constructed that it may be independently actuated to discharge a high velocity jet of the carbonated beverage or foam thereof, or to create such foam.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid dispensing apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing faucet having internal configurations which may be separately actuated, one so not to break up a carbonated solution during flow therethrough, and the other so as to deliberately effect break-up thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an article of commerce which is interchangeable with the valve element of `an existing faucet, to thereby convert the faucet int-o one having two outlets.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved iizz valve.

Many other advantages, features, and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest t-o those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

Patented Feb. 8, 1966 On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a dispensing valve assembly provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along Vline II-II of FIGURE 1; and

`FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE l, shown partly in cross-section.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a dispensing apparatus, device, valve, or faucet such as illustrated in FIGURE l, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The faucet 10 includes a body 11 supported by a coupling nut 12 in uid tight relation to a lianged threaded sleeve 13 which is adapted as by 1a fitting 1'4 to be connected to a supply of liquid, such as a carbonated beverage, for example beer or soft drinks.` A handle 15 is rockably mounted on the body 11. The elements 11-15 thus far describe-d are shown here for environmental purposes, do not form a novel part of the present invention, and are more particularly detailed in my U.S. Patent No. 2,899,170.

The b'ody 11 has a iirst iiuid passage 16 communicating at its upstream end 17 with the iitting 14 for receiving a pressurized liquid therefrom. The fluid passage 16 at its downstream end comprises an outlet 18 which is a main outlet through which beverage or other liquid is discharged with a minimum of turbulence and hence a minimum of foam. The means in the body 11 'which defines the passage 16 also defines a main seat 19 which is directed in `an upstream direction.

The body 1'1 supports a first valve assembly generally indicated at 20, and the valve assembly 20 supports a second valve assembly generally indicated at 21. The valve assembly 20 includes `a first stem 22 which is movably or slidably supported by the body in an opening 23. One end of .the ste-m 22 extends into the passage 16 and the other end of the stem 22 extends outwardly of the body 1l. On the inner end of the stem 22, there is a first annular valve 24, such as of rubber, and which is held thereon by a nut 25 having a rounded external configura- -tion 26 and -a rounded internal configuration 27. The valve 24 is movable into and out of sealing engagement with the seat 19 in response to reciprocation of the stem 22 which is under the control of the handle 15.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the stem 22 has means generally indicated at 28 defining a second fluid passage. The upstream end of the passage 28 begins at the rounded surface .27 of the nut 25, thence passes through an axial bore 29 in the stem which merges with a transverse bore 30. Anurnber of parallel radially offset passages 31 communicate the transverse bore 30 with a cylindrical recess 32. The transverse bore 30 is formed in the stem 22 by partially cross drilling the same, and thereafter closing the outer end of the bore 30 With a fluid tight plug 33. The passage portions 31 are so disposed that they extend on opposite sides of a vertical slot 34 in which the lower or reciprocating end 35 of the handle 1S is received. None of the passages 31 communicates with the vertical slot 34.

The cylindrical recess 32 has a first counterbore 36 which defines a shoulder 37 against which there is received a tubular plug 38. The cylindrical recess 32 has a second counterbore 39 defining a shoulder 4) through which the passage portions 31 extend. The cylindrical recess 32 has a third counterbore 41 defining a shoulder 42 which receives one end of a spring 43.

The tubular plug 38 disposed in the counterbore 36 defines a second seat 44 directed in an upstream direction and disposed in the second fluid passage 28 and thus communicating with the supply of pressurized liquid at all times. The tubular plug 38 includes three peripheral grooves, one receiving a rubber O-ring 45 for sealing against the relatively high upstream pressure, one receiving an O-ring 46 `for sealing against a lower pressure during dispensing, and the third groove 47 communicating with'an axial bore 48 therein.

The tubular plug 38 is held against the shoulder 37 by a flange nut 49 having a threaded portion engaging with screw threads at the outer end of the stern 22 and having a flange portion acting through a compression seal 50 to so bias the tubular plug 38.

Within the axial bore 48 of the tubular plug 38, there is slidably disposed and supported a second valve stem 51, at the inner end of which there is supported and carried a second annular valve 52, such as of rubber, and at the outer end of which there is secured an actuating knob 53. The knob 53 is secured to the outer end of the stem 51 by a set screw 54. The spring 43 acts against the inner end -of the stern 51 to bias and urge the valve 52 against the seat 44. The inner end of the stem 51 has a head 55 of reduced size and which is undercut to receive therebeneath a reduced diameter turn of the spring 43. The spring 43 thus acts between the valve assembly 20 and the valve assembly 21 to hold the valve of the valve assembly 21 normally in a closed position.

A Vfurther somewhat heavier spring 56 acts between a flange S7 on the stem 22 and on the front side of the body 11 to apply a force to the valve stem 22 which biases the valve 24 in a closing direction. The spring 56 is enclosed or jacketed by a pair of annular telescoping covers 58, 59 which have flange ends respectively disclosed between the spring 56 and the flange 57, and the spring 56 and the body 11.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the stem 22 has a radial opening 60 which communicates the counterbore 36- at the peripheral groove 4'7 with the exterior, the opening 60 being counterbored and receiving a short length of conduit 61, the lower end 62 of which defines a second outlet of an auxiliary nature smaller than the outlet 18 and disposed remotely therefrom.

When the handle is rocked forwardly as shown in the drawing, pressurized liquid flows past the valve 24, past the seat 19, and out the outlet 18. Whether the valve 24 be open or closed, the knob 53 may also be actuated or pushed inwardly to unseat the valve 52 from the seat 44, thereby enabling fluid to pass through the second passage 28. More particularly, the fluid then flows from the portion 17 in the body 11, through the nut 25, the passage portion 29, the transverse bore 30, one or more of the passages 31, to the cylindrical recess 32 where it flows past the valve 52 andthe seat 44 and along a reduced diameter portion of the stem 51 and into the groove 47, to the opening 60 and the outlet 62.

When the main valve 24 is closed, and a `force is applied to the knob 53,y the spring 43 will yield to enable the second valve 52 to open, while the stronger spring 56 will hold the main valve 24 closed.

While the passage 16 is made as -smooth as possible to minimize turbulence, it is to be noted that the passage 28 has a number of sharp corners and edges which tend to create turbulence, and hence foam. By way of example, the transverse bore 30 is so constructed that fluid flowing therethrough must make two sharp turns. By way of further example, there is an internal shoulder 63 in the conduit that defines the auxiliary outlet 62. The foam created in the passage 28 ris thus discharged with liquid through the outlet 62,- and at a relatively highy movements of either or both of them are in the same direction, and each valve opens in response to inward movement thereof.

AThe assembly s hown in FIGURES 2 and 3 comprises an article of manufacture which may initially comprise part of a faucet assembly such as shown in FIGURE l, and which alternatively may be sold as a replacement device by which faucets such as shown in my U.S. Patent No. 2,899,170 may be modified to incorporate the principles of this invention.

` In this construction, the means 61 that defines the auxiliary outlet 62 Vextends in a downwardly straight direction, and the liquid is discharged therefrom in a downwardly straight direction. Moreover, such means are situated well forward where the operator r'can readily see what he is doing.

Although various minor modifications might be' suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in combination: x

(a) a body having a first fluid passage therethrough in which there is a first seat for communicating with a supply of liquid;

(b) a first valve disposed in said first fluid passage and supported by said body for free-sliding movement in an axial direction into and out of sealing engagement with said first seat, said first valve having a second fluid passage therethrough in which there is a second seat for communicating with the supply of fluid;

(c) a second valve disposed in said second fluid passage and supported by said 'first valve for free-sliding movement in an axial direction into and out of sealing engagement with said second seat;

(d) a first spring action between said body. and said first valve and operable to move said first valve toward said first seat; and

(e) a second spring acting between said valves and op-v erable to move said second Valve toward said second seat.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in com bination:

(a) a body having a first fluid passage therethrough in which there is a first seat for communicating with a supply of liquid;

(b) a first valve disposed in said first fluid passage and supported by said body for free-sliding movementl in an axial direction into and out of sealing engagement with said first seat, said first valve having a second fluid passage therethrough in which there is a second seat for communicating with the supply of fluid;

(c) a second valve disposed in said second fluid passage and supported by said first valve for free-sliding movement in an axialidirection in a direction corresponding to that of said first valve into and out of sealing engagement with said second seat;

(d) a first spring acting between said body and r said first valve and operable -to move said first valve toward said first seat; and

(e) a second spring acting between said valves with a force weaker than that of said first valve and operable to move said second valve toward said second seat. f

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in comond passage terminating in an auxiliary outlet of reduced size disposed in externally spaced relation to said body and forwardly adjacent to said main outlet; and

(c) a second valve disposed in said second fluid passage and movable into and out of sealing engagement with said second seat.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a body having a first fluid passage therethrough of functionally smooth internal construction in which there is a irst seat for communicating with a supply of liquid;

(b) a irst valve disposed in said irst liuid passage and .movable into and out of sealing engagement with said rst seat, said rst valve having a second fluid passage therethrough in which passage there is a second seat for communicating with the supply of iuid, said second iiuid passage being deined in part by sharp corner means by which the direction of iiow of all of the liquid iowing through said second passage is sharply turned upstream of said second seat for eiiecting a turbulence in the liquid; and

(c) a second valve disposed in said second tiuid passage and movable into and out of sealing engagement with said second seat.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a body having a first fluid passage therethrough in which there is a iirst annular seat directed in an upstream direction for communicating with a supply of liquid;

(b) a rst valve assembly including,

( 1) a first stem movably supported by said body,

(2) a first annular valve secured to said first stem and disposed in said irst fluid passage, and movable by said first stem in a downstream direction into sealing engagement with said irst seat,

(3) means in said stem defining a second fluid passage, the upstream end of said second passage extending through said irst annular valve for communicating with the supply of liquid, and said second passage including a cylindrical recess; and

(4) a tubular plug received in said recess and having an upstream end defining a second annular seat directed in an upstream direction and forming a part of said second fluid passage; and

(c) a second valve assembly including,

(1) a second stem extending through and slidably supported by said tubular plug, and

(2) a second valve secured to said second stem and disposed in said cylindrical recess, and movable by said second stem in a downstream direction into sealing engagement with said second seat.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising in cornbination:

(a) a body having a first tiuid passage therethrough in which there is a first annular seat directed in an upstream direction for communicating with a supply of liquid;

(b) a first valve assembly including,

(1) a first stem movably supported by said body, (2) a irst annular valve secured to said irst stem and disposed in said iirst iiuid passage, and rnov` able by said iirst stem in a downstream direction into sealing engagement with said lirst seat, (3) means in said stern defining a second fluid passage, the upstream end of said second passage extending through said first annular valve for communicating with the supply of liquid, and said second passage including a cylindrical recess; and (4) a tubular plug received in said recess and having an upstream end defining a second annular seat directed in an upstream direction and forming a part of said second iiuid passage; (c) a second valve assembly including,

( l) a second stem extending through and slidably supported by said tubular plug, and (2) a second valve secured to said second stem and disposed in said cylindrical recess, and movable by said second stem in a downstream direction into sealing engagement with said second seat; and (d) a pair of manually actuatable knobs respectively having driving connections with said stems for eiecting individual axial sliding movement thereof in a direction corresponding to the length of such stems.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 144,646 11/ 1873 Zwietusch 137-6372 2,607,559 8/1952 Forss 251--321 2,619,914 12/1952 Dobkin 137-614.16 X 2,675,822 4/ 1954 Redlin 137-600 X 2,879,801 3/1959 Cornelius IS7-637.2 X 2,899,170 8/ 1959 Cornelius 251-122 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON,

Acting Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner. 

3. A LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BODY HAVING A FIRST FLUID PASSAGE THERETHROUGH IN WHICH THERE IS A FIRST SEAT FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A SUPPLY OF LIQUID, SAID FIRST PASSAGE TERMINATING IN A MAIN OUTLET; (B) A FIRST VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST FLUID PASSAGE AND MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST SEAT, SAID FIRST VALVE HAVING A SECOND FLUID PASSAGE THERETHROUGH IN WHICH THERE IS A SECOND SEAT FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE SUPPLY OF FLUID, SAID SECOND PASSAGE TERMINATING IN AN AUXILIARY OUTLET OF REDUCED SIZE DISPOSED IN EXTERNALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID BODY AND FORWARDLY ADJACENT TO SAID MAIN OUTLET; AND (C) A SECOND VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID SECOND FLUID PASSAGE AND MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND SEAT. 